The Andrea Levialdi Fellowship

Abstract

My first encounter with Cuba dates back to winter 1967–1968 at the Cultural Congress of La Havana, a very large international event to promote greater understanding of the reality of the Cuban Revolution. In fact the person invited was my friend and colleague Andrea Levialdi (Andrea already knew Cuba and loved it) who, unable to participate, allowed me to go in her place. So I landed at the airport of the “first free country in Latin America” with the delegation of the Italian Communist Party. In Havana I met other Italian physicists whom I already knew, among them Bruno Vitale and Daniele Amati. They, like me, were embarrassed by the generous hospitality of ‘Havana Libre,’ especially in a country which was going through such difficulties. Despite our best efforts we did not succeed in receiving a more modest welcome.

Appendix: Two Letters Written from Cuba by Andrea Levialdi to Roberto Fieschi

1.1 Letter 1

• November 14, 1968                    Havana

• Dear Roberto,

• Here quickly a list that I can finally send you:

• 1) meter of magnetic field and gaussimeter

• 2) 2 or 3 graphite bars of high density and purity: 5 cm diameter, minimal length 15 cm

• 3) chemically pure germanium oxide – 500 gr

• 4) chemically pure germanium – 500 gr

• 5) a synchronous electric motor of almost 1/10 HP (here there are 60 c.p.s.) if possible with a flexible extension of the axle (type Blentista) with the possibility of fixing at its extremes discs of pertinex or diamond coated cardboard for cutting

• 6) diamond coated disks – 2 dozen

• 7) 2 dozen Kover feedthroughs for fixing electrodes through glass in vacuum (sent)

• 8) a gas fluximeter for almost 1 bubble per second (Paorici is practical and precision is scant) (sent 2)

• 9) some meters of tungsten wire, 1 mm diameter

• 10) insulating pearl for the thermocouple of 1 mm internal diameter (sent)

• 11) chromel-alumell wire for thermocouple almost 1,5 diameter – some meters (sent)

• 12) a hairdryer hot-cold (sent)

• 13) a small synchronous electric motor of 1/16 HP and even less (60 c.p.m.)

• 14) a book about the technical practice of pyrometry

• It’s not all that is lacking, but before I end up with nothing, I have begun to make this first list of things without which I cannot work.

• I have made a program of the kind we had discussed, i.e. Guerci during the summer for two or three months – two grant holders at Parma for one or two years. In March, or later on, during a visit from you and Gozzini – I will explain this to you in detail.

• Dina [Waisman] leaves again for Argentina in January, the poor girl has really done very much in a very difficult environment.

1.2 Letter 2

1.2.1 Program Cuba

• It is proposed that close contact is kept between the Institute of Physics of Havana and the one in Parma, establishing a certain continuity.

• 1st stage: Prof Fieschi goes to Havana in order to evaluate the situation, the possibilities, and to formulate a program together with the Cubans.

• 2nd stage: Prof. Levialdi will give two months of lectures and seminars and will try to begin some investigative work and to single out two young people to come to the Parma Institute for 1–2 years.

• 3rd stage: Placing in Parma of two grant holders with a working plan to learn techniques which can be used on their return in Cuba.

• 4th stage: At the same time that the 2 grant holders are sent to Italy, a chemical technologist should be sent to Cuba.

• 5th stage: Course to be given by Prof. Fieschi.¹